Aster plant named ‘MYPOT0001’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Aster  plant named ‘MYPOT0001’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy appearance; freely flowering habit; double type inflorescences with dark violet-colored ray florets; good postproduction longevity and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Aster novi-belgii.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MYPOT0001’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Aster plant, botanically known as Aster novi-belgii and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘MYPOT0001’.

The new Aster plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Malling, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Aster plants with freely branching habit and attractive double type inflorescences.

The new Aster originated from a cross-pollination in April, 2012 in Malling, Denmark of a proprietary selection of Aster novi-belgii identified as code number 09-131-002, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Aster novi-belgii identified as code number 07-099-003, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Aster plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Mailing, Denmark in August, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Aster plant by terminal vegetative cuttings was first conducted in Malling, Denmark in September, 2013. Asexual reproduction by cuttings has shown that the unique features of this new Aster plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Aster have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘MYPOT0001’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘MYPOT0001’ as a new and distinct Aster plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy appearance.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Double type inflorescences with dark violet-colored ray         florets.     -   6. Good postproduction longevity and good garden performance.

Plants of the new Aster differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aster are larger than plants of the female         parent selection.     -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Aster are darker purple in         color than ray florets of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Aster differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aster are bushier than and not as upright         as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Leaf margins of plants of the new Aster are slightly serrate         whereas leaf margins of plants of the male parent selection are         entire.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Aster produce a scarce         amount of pollen whereas inflorescences of plants of the male         parent selection produce pollen.

Plants of the new Aster can be compared to plants of Aster novi-belgii ‘Victoria Fanny’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,360. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Malling, Denmark, plants of the new Aster differed from plants of ‘Victoria Fanny’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Aster were narrower than leaves         of plants of ‘Victoria Fanny’.     -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Aster were darker violet in         color than ray florets of plants of ‘Victoria Fanny’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Aster plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Aster plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘MYPOT0001’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of the upper surface of a typical leaf of ‘MYPOT0001’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘MYPOT0001’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter and early spring in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Malling, Denmark and under cultural practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Aster production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 20° C. Plants were pinched two times and were twelve weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Aster novi-belgii ‘MYPOT0001’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Aster             novi-belgii identified as code number 09-131-002, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Aster             novi-belgii identified as code number 07-099-003, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About eight days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About 20 days at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous double type potted Aster             plant; upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; broad             inverted triangle; strong and freely branching habit with             about 18 lateral branches developing per plant, pinching             enhances branching potential; moderately vigorous growth             habit.         -   Plant height.—About 19.1 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 27.9 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 11.8 cm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Internode length: About 1.1 cm. Aspect: About 15° to             40° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent.             Luster: Moderately glossy. Color: Close to 137B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 6.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate to narrowly oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Irregularly and shallowly serrate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Slightly rugose, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Very slightly rugose, glabrous.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Very slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to between N137A and             147A; venation, close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 137B; venation, 147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Type and arrangement.—Double type inflorescence form with             oblanceolate-shaped ray florets; inflorescences borne on             terminal and axillary branches above and beyond the foliar             plane; ray and disc florets arranged acropetally on a             capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plants flower             during the autumn in Denmark; plants begin flowering about             four to six weeks after planting.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about two to three weeks on the plant;             inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit with             about twelve inflorescences per lateral branch and about 216             inflorescences developing per plant.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1 cm. Diameter: About             8 mm. Shape: Broadly elliptic. Color: Close to 137C; towards             the apex, close to 85A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 3.3 cm. Depth (height):             About 1.7 cm. Diameter of disc: About 4 mm, inconspicuous.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Shape: Rhomboidal. Color: Close to 143C.         -   Ray florets.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 2.5 mm.             Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Luster, upper surface: Matte, velvety. Luster, lower             surface: Slightly glossy. Orientation: Initially upright,             then about 70° from vertical to perpendicular to peduncle.             Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 260 arranged             in numerous whorls. Color: When opening, upper surface:             Close to N87B. When opening, lower surface: Close to N88C to             N88D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N87A and N87B;             color does not change with development. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to N88C to N88D; color does not change with             development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: If present, about             two to four per inflorescence and randomly arranged at the             center of the receptacle; disc florets inconspicuous.             Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Tubular,             elongated; five free apices are acute. Texture, inner and             outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, inner and outer             surfaces: Moderately glossy. Color, immature, inner and             outer surfaces: Apex: Close to 150D. Mid-section and base:             Close to 145C and 145D. Color, mature, inner and outer             surfaces: Apex: Close to 84C and 84D. Mid-section and base:             Close to 150D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity and arrangement: About 45 per             inflorescence arranged in about three whorls. Length: About             6 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to             138B. Color, lower surface: Close to 137C to 137D.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 2 mm. Length,             fourth peduncle: About 8 mm. Length, seventh peduncle: About             1.1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle: Terminal             inflorescences, on top of lateral branch; axillary             inflorescences, about 50° from lateral branch. Strength:             Moderately strong, flexible. Texture: Pubescent. Color:             Close to 137B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity of stamens per floret: Five. Filament length:             About 5 mm. Filament color: Close to 150D. Anther shape:             Lanceolate. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close             to 164A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 13A             to 13B. Gynoecium: Present on ray and disc florets. Quantity             of pistils per floret: One. Pistil length: About 7 mm.             Stigma shape: Cleft, two to three-parted, decurrent. Stigma             color: Close to 159D. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color:             Close to 155A. Ovary color: Close to 145C to 145D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Aster. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Aster have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Aster     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Aster have been observed to be     tolerant to rain, wind and high temperatures of about 35° C., and to     be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 4. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Aster plant named ‘MYPOT0001’ as illustrated and described. 